Arkansas Preview

Let's take a walk down memory lane, back to 2010. For you finance bros and gals, let's call this season a V Shaped recession. Expectations were not sky high in 2010, as the Dawgs were coming off an 8-5 season in 2009. Still, I think it's fair to say that few were expecting the Dawgs to have their first losing season since a young fellow named Mike Bobo started at QB in 1996. The Dawgs finished the 2010 season with a 6-7 record, and a season ending loss in the Liberty Bowl to the UCF Knights. And I'm not talking about the 2017 co-national champion UCF Knights. This was pre-dynasty UCF.

The last time Arkansas played in Athens? You guessed it, 2010. The offensive coordinator for the Dawgs that day? Mike Bobo. The kickoff time? Noon EST.

In the 2010 match-up, Ryan Mallett threw for almost 400 yards (and the game winning TD with less than 1 minute to play) in the 31-24 victory for the Hogs. Worth noting this was one of the best Arkansas teams of the last 30 years, with future NFL players including Mallett, Knile Davis, Jarius Wright, Chris Gragg, and Jerry Franklin. To add insult to injury, the Razorbacks were coached by a sworn enemy of the state of Georgia, Bobby Petrino. This loss was part of a 4-game losing streak for the Dawgs during the 2010 season. Thankfully, the downturn did not last long, as UGA recovered quickly and reached the SEC Championship the next 2 seasons. But, let's not forget we aren't that far removed from a losing season in Athens.

Coach Kirby Smart knows that historically, the energy from Bulldog nation tends to drop off for noon games, and he has challenged our fans to be elite this Saturday. Coach Smart makes a good point. I remember being in the student section for the 2010 Arkansas game. Unfortunately, our good friend Brett does not. Even as a seasoned veteran entering the fall of his junior year in Athens, Brett was unable to overcome a debilitating hangover in time for the noon EST kickoff. Not the type of leadership you expect from a distinguished upperclassman. Thankfully, America is a place that believes in second chances, and it's your time to be elite, Brett. See you Saturday, fam.

High level hitters

• After week 4, Bill Connelly's SP+ has Arkansas ranked 16th overall (28th offensive and 17th defensive).

• For what it's worth, SP+ has been kind of down on Arkansas for most of the year. The Hogs don't care, and keep chugging along.

• In last week's game against Texas A&M, Arkansas held the Aggies to 272 total yards.

• Offensively, the Hogs generated a number of explosive plays, including this 85-yard TD pass from KJ Jefferson to Treylon Burks.

• After the 62-0 victory over Vandy, UGA moved up to #1 in the SP+ rankings. THAT'S RAT POISON, PAWL.

What to watch for:

• Junior WR Treylon Burks is a bona fide stud. In his three seasons at Arkansas, Burks has almost 1,700 receiving yards ( an average of nearly 17 yards per reception) and 9 TDs.

• RS Sophomore QB KJ Jefferson is a dual threat QB, and has taken a big step forward so far this year. Jefferson is averaging nearly 11 YPA on the season, and is completing 59% of his passes. On the ground, Jefferson is a legitimate threat and has 230 rushing yards (7.2 YPC).

• Junior RB Trelon Smith is the best of Arkansas' running backs, and has nearly 300 rushing yards (5.1 YPC) on the season. Three other running backs on the roster (Raheim Sanders, Dominique Johnson, and AJ Green!) each have over 100 yards rushing on the season. Factor in KJ Jefferson's capability as a runner, and this is about as good of a ground game as we will face all season.

• One area of weakness for the Hogs' offense is the WR depth. Tyson Morris is a capable #2 receiver, but after that there is a lot of unproven talent on the team.

• The Arkansas DL was excellent against Texas A&M. I thought Tre Williams was the best player for the Hogs defense in the game, finishing with 2 sacks and 2 TFLs. Overall, their DL rotation is deep, and Coach Matt Luke's offensive line will have its hands full.

• Seniors Grant Morgan, Bumper Pool, and Hayden Henry (younger brother of Hunter) are the leading tacklers among the Arkansas linebackers. They are a physical bunch, and are very strong against the run.

• Jalen Catalon, Greg Brooks Jr., Montaric Brown, and Joe Foucha anchor the Hogs' secondary. These guys have played a lot of ball, and have combined for 15 interceptions in their careers.

• I'm not going to talk about the UGA QB situation. Your guess is as good as mine. Since Coach Kirby Smart challenged the fans this week, I would like to issue a counter to CKS:

Final thoughts

Arkansas has a deep running back rotation, a mobile QB who can sling it, and one of the best wide receivers in the country. Offensive Coordinator Kendall Briles finds a lot of creative ways to get Treylon Burks the ball, via creative play designs and effective use of pre-snap motions. It's no secret that the Dawgs have an elite defense, but this will be the best offense we have played so far this season.

I think Arkansas can make things interesting, especially if JTD is unable to go. That being said, if the Dawgs stay disciplined and don't allow Arkansas to convert on the big passing plays that have been routine for the Hogs this year, I think we will be fine. Finally, both KJ Jefferson and Treylon Burks had to leave the game against Texas A&M due to injury. Both were able to return, but keep an eye on their status.